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HI,  Because of a required move, I am rebuilding my layout.  I am using all insulated Fastrack.  As a convention habit the active ground is on the outside rail.  However, because of multiple curves and walk through horseshoe tables the physical outside rail can actually be on the inside.  I define outside as the outside finished edge of the table(s).  I am setting up multiple blocks.  Should i keep the active physical ground rail on the same side within a block and is it OK if the adjacent block(s) have the active ground rail on the other side.  Can I switch the active ground rail from one side within a block to the other side.  Or does it not really matter how I treat the configuration of the active physical ground rail.

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gunrunnerjohn posted:

As a general rule, the side that is the active ground doesn't make any difference.  I do recommend that you have both sides connected to ground in any block that you aren't using the insulated rail for signalling.

John, grounding both sides? Do ground loops ever rear their ugly heads? I'm guessing not since most train circuitry seems to be low impedance?

GeoPeg posted:
gunrunnerjohn posted:

As a general rule, the side that is the active ground doesn't make any difference.  I do recommend that you have both sides connected to ground in any block that you aren't using the insulated rail for signalling.

John, grounding both sides? Do ground loops ever rear their ugly heads? I'm guessing not since most train circuitry seems to be low impedance?

Well, Lionel tubular track and Fastrack have both sides grounded, and that doesn't cause a problem, so I'd say no.

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